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Resource Center » U.S. & Intl Recaps | Release Dates | Event Definitions | Today's Calendar
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The Conference Board compiles a survey of consumer attitudes on present economic conditions and expectations of future conditions. Five thousand consumers across the country are surveyed each month. While the level of consumer confidence is associated with consumer spending, the two do not move in tandem each and every month. Why Investors Care
| Released on 3/29/05 For Mar 2005 | ||||||||||
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Highlights
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index slipped back to 102.4 in March vs. 104.4 in February. Both levels are consistent with only the most modest level of confidence, confirming similar indications from the University of Michigan's survey.
Though payrolls have begun to expand, a large 23.8% of the report's roughly 3,500 initial respondents said jobs are "hard to get," up from 22.4% in February. But the jobs "plentiful" reading did not confirm the trouble, inching up two tenths to 21.3%.
The report in fact ventured to say that employment concerns are easing, a shift that should boost consumer spending ahead.
Nevertheless, high gas prices and a still uncertain jobs market, throw in rising interest rates as well, are likely to keep a lid on future confidence readings and a lid on otherwise still healthy levels of retail spending.
Bonds edged higher on the data while the dollar edged lower. Moderate confidence readings are a positive for the economic outlook, confirming that income growth is stable and contained and pushing back the risk of over-heating.
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index inched back to 104 in February from a level of 105.1 in January. At mid-month, the Michigan survey fell from the February average. Although the two series don't move in tandem, they could be signaling a drop in optimism in the Conference Board's survey as well.
Consumer confidence Consensus Forecast for Mar 05: 103
Range: 101 to 105
![[Chart]](chart.gif)
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Typically retail sales will move in tandem with consumer optimism - although not necessarily each and every month. |
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